Continuum of Care Holdings is the company Council President Ron Angle invited to address a council committee at a public meeting in September. The company purchased Dauphin County's nursing home, Spring Creek, four years ago.

Councilman Lamont McClure, an outspoken critic of the sale, said the county administration violated the spirit of the home rule charter by allowing the bid opening in the state capital instead of the county seat.

"Citizens interested in this live here, and many who may be interested in being there may find it incredibly difficult to get there in the middle of winter," he said.

Director of Administration John Conklin said as a real estate transaction the sale is not subject to the procurement rules that govern the routine purchase of supplies or hire of professionals.

According to Conklin, Eckert Seamans and county solicitor Karl Longenbach advised the county that public advertisement of the bid opening was unnecessary. Conklin said he notified the press of the opening as a courtesy.

Melissa Melewsky, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association media law counsel, said the county did nothing wrong: "They're following the rules, but the rules themselves can provide more public access than they do."

The county will ask buyers that pass the vetting process to submit "final best" offers by the end of January. The administration will unveil its top pick, and final council approval is set for mid-February. Payment of unemployment costs, capital repairs and debt will eat into county profits from the sale.

A coalition of families of residents and unions representing Gracedale workers continue to collect signatures in hopes of asking voters on the spring ballot to prevent the sale for five years.